Poland orders 32 AW149
 

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...eonardo-aw149s

Poland Places Order for 32 Leonardo AW149s

by Mark Huber
- July 1, 2022, 9:49 AM
https://www.ainonline.com/sites/aino...amp=1656686465
The Polish Ministry of Defense has placed an order with Leonardo for 32 new AW149 helicopters which it will use to support a variety of missions including casualty evacuation, search and rescue in combat operations, and the transport of goods and supplies. (Photo: Polish Ministry of Defense)Leonardo unit PZL-Świdnik has received an order for 32 AW149 helicopters from the Polish Ministry of Defense. The multi-role helicopters will be assembled by PZL-Świdnik in Poland for delivery between 2023 and 2029. Including logistics, training, and simulators, the deal is valued at $1.84 billion.

Poland's helicopters will be kitted for missions such as casualty evacuation, search-and-rescue in combat operations, and the transport of goods and supplies. Installed equipment will include observation systems, small arms, guided/unguided rockets and missiles, and self-defense systems. Weapons can be installed in the cabin or on the helicopter's external hard points.

“The contract signed today is a continuation of the fulfillment of our promises to Poland regarding Leonardo's commitment to the development of the local helicopter plants and the Polish supply chain to the benefit of Polish industry,” said Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo. “By strengthening our position in the strategic Polish market as a supplier of modern defense technology, we are proud to contribute to the constant increase of the security of the Polish nation, and to strengthen the industrial capabilities which are fundamental to the country's resilience and sovereignty."

Erm how much? IF they are committing to development of local plants does that mean future SAR airframes will be built there as the UKSAR ones were meant to be Yeovil built but clearly weren't. OR all others built in Italy as before/now? Will any actually be built in PZL?

some info on PZL production in https://www.pprune.org/military-avia...der-aw149.html

I think many have assumed that the 149 is a militarised 189 but that isn't the case - the 149 was built as a military helicopter and then civilianised to widen its market as the 189.

A fair point, though I'd be interested to know how much the 149 is a militarised (and slightly stretched) 139...

I don't know about that - I was told by someone who should know that it was built for the Italian military who then changed their minds.

Inevitably there are similarities as it came from the same stable - I saw one of each in a Coastguard hangar and with the same paint job they were tricky to tell apart other than by counting the windows.

Crab, IIRC it was built against a Turkish requirement but still lost out to the UH-60. Previously only sold to Egypt and Thailand. It has a ruggedised undercarriage when compared to its civilian cousins, plus improved fuel system and avionics architecture for flexible mission avionics, including DAS, sensors and weapons. It is a kinda half way house between a thoroughbred military platform, such as the Black Hawk, and a mere 'oil and gas machine painted green'. Interesting pricing here though - $1.84Bn for 32 helicopters would suggest that the aircraft is unaffordable for the UK, who have a budget limit of circa $1.4Bn for NMH and a stated need for at least 36 airframes plus full pan-DLoD support. I guess we'll see if the political angle played in Poland repeats here and the budget/URD/numbers 'tailored' to fit the -149….

Without it Yeovil will be stuffed so the politics will inevitably come into play.

It doesn't look like the worst helicopter and I believe would beat others in respect of delivery times.

Agree, not the worst, and definitely available before an H175M (paper aircraft which needs its Chinese content removing) and the Bell 525, which is not yet, I believe, fully certified. Black Hawk could be delivered sooner. The line in Poland could be supplemented by the Stratford line and the AceHawk line in Alabama is already ‘hot’ building aircraft for Austria so could prime the pump for Teeside built aircraft….Re politics, I guess with at least 4 Tory ‘red wall’ MPs talking about defecting, it might not be as straightforward as in previous years……

And to be fair, although the Blackhawk would have been the solution in the 80s for Puma Wessex replacement, it might not be what is needed in the 21st century.

Except, of course, NMH is supposed to be an interim ML capability while the UK decides on what to buy between NGR and FLRAA, not a long term 21st Century solution…..as an interim the combat proven -60 with all the interoperability benefits it provides is likely a better bet. Unless, politically, JHC are reverse engineering the URD from a -149 brochure of course….

When have we ever seen long-term solutions from MoD?:) Someone will do some staff work, then there won't be enough money, then the next person in post does different staff work, still no money, then politics trumps capability..........

Yeovil has plenty of 'bigger fish' to concentrate on, UAS, NGR, FVL etc etc. The last thing they should be doing is putting all their eggs in the 'stop-gap' NMH basket - which would mean, if successful, UK would end up even further behind the development drag curve than others. Maybe it was such thinking that got the MD sacked? The Antares article summed it up nicely.

If they can afford blackhawk then used super puma will be the only choice. Blackhawk is never in the conversation unless Leonardo willing to revive Westland's legacy.